Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis was present at the Metropolis of Athens to attend the Holy Thursday service. It is the first time since the Mass for the New Year that Mitsotakis has been at the Metropolis, following the sharpening of relations between the State and the Church.
The Prime Minister arrived at the Metropolis at 20:30 and greeted the Archbishop with a handshake. “I thought you would have already left for vacation,” the prime minister told reporters at the entrance, while chatting with children outside the church.
“We are here to celebrate and everything else we find,” Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens and All Greece said earlier, arriving at the cathedral when asked if the prime minister’s presence was significant.
In the Orthodox Church on Maundy Thursday, the “Holy Passion Service” is celebrated, during which 12 passages from the four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) are read on the Holy Passion of Christ from the Last Supper to the Burial.
After the reading of the fifth Gospel in order, the Crucified One comes out of the Sanctuary and is placed in the middle of the Temple, while “Today he is hanging on a tree” is sung. The Crucifix will remain in place until Vespers the following day, Good Friday morning.
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The twelve Gospels describe Jesus’ journey to Calvary and recall what happened, according to the Gospel accounts, just before the Crucifixion: The Last Supper, i.e. Jesus’ supper with the 12 Apostles; the Holy Communion, i.e. Jesus Christ’s washing of the feet of the 12 Apostles; the Supernatural Prayer, i.e. Jesus’ prayer to his father just before his arrest; and the betrayal of Judas, resulting in Jesus’ arrest.
